
PS 1764 

G288 ^ '-^ "^ 

S7 

1919 
Copy 1 



STRENGTH 



A SEXAGESIMAL ODE 



DARTMOUTH COLLEGE 



CLASS OF 1859 



June 23, 1919 



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STRENGTH ^^'"^ '^^<\ 



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OD bless you classmates! By His grace, V* "^ ^ 
We meet in this accustomed place, \^^ 

And now, at Alma Mater's call, 
Fulfill our sexagesimal. 

The boy still lives in us, as when 

With musing step, sub-graduates then, 

We strolled the paths of Hanover, 

Or muscles stout. 

And football shout. 

The college campus ran over. 

Weakness and strength to God belong; 
The weak are made in Him the strong. 

Ah! who is weak, and I not weak? 
And on whom falls the lot to speak 
Of failing of a fading mass, 
But odist of a passing class? 

Might poet stop what Muse might hap 
To tell of flight at will from dome, 

Or polished shallop moored in lap 
Of light alliterate palindrome? 

Cloak? Look! It can mere crime enact, 
Hush throb or cry, a breath begun; 

But nothing can unkink the fact, 
Non si erat daughter or a son. 

Not Sally's teen for rough or fair 

E'er chooses which or when the birth. 

When mud a mountain laboring bear, 
Or God a gracious maid bring forth. 



G>pyright,,1919, by R^o-ger'S. Greene 

m 17 isia 

©C1A527790 

Vv-P I 



Man masters little — sore at woes! — 

In moan a dream, immured in moan, 

A dance of sand, as earth-quake throws, — 
Yes, earth-tossed dust, on ocean sown. 

When weak I am, then am I strong, 

On meadow peep, in sky a song: 
For strength is man's when claimed as His, 
'Who Author of all being is. 

I've more of strength than heart of flesh 
Can in my limbs induce; 

I'm drawing on immortal life 
; For mortal body's use; 

The fountain oped, at morn, when broke 
The sealed and guarded tomb, 

And Jesus, radiant, burst alive 

From Death's imprisoning gloom. 

Marvel of marvels ! that in me 

The Spirit of Christ should dwell. 
And make this dying body be 

Of life a springing well — , 
A well of life, eternal life, 

Of resurrection power, — 
So, always delivered to death, I live 

His life, from hour to hour. 

This flesh, my own, God's wondrous gift, 

I hate not nor despise; 
I love and cherish it, and yet 

On Christ my soul relies; 
For I am crucified with Christ, 

And yet there's life in me; 
I live and yet not I but Christ — 

The Living One is He. 

I live by faith — a better faith. 

Than mine, yet mine! — the faith 

Of Christ, the risen Son of God, 
Triumphant over Death; 



lil.llHWllM ^^g ^ ^ jy faj^jj^ j„ peace, I live on earth. 

This realm of death and strife, 
A witness Christ on earth shall reign, 
The Prince of peace and life. 

Full well I know a change must come, 

I know not when or how, 
But when His Spirit whispers mine, 

"The hour is come! 'tis now!" 
Perhaps, like His, my mortal frame 

Within a grave shall lie, 
Perhaps to glory mount, be changed. 

In twinkling of an eye. 

Thank God! for me to live is Christ, 

For me to die is gain; 
If I with Him do suffer here 

I here with Him shall reign; 
The world, in war, may shriek for peace, 

In peace be whetting swords, 
I — whether I do live or die — 

I ever am the Lord's, 



O Dartmouth class of '59, 
Promotion's ours! let's not resign! 
When weakest, then are strongest we, 
For God is our sufficiency. 

The boy still lives in us, as when 

With musing step, subgraduates then, 

We strolled the paths of Hanover, 

Or, muscles stout, 

With football shout. 

The College Campus ran over. 

Weakness and strength to God belong; 
The weak are made in Him the strong. 



Roger S. Greene. 



